Marklund expansion meets opposition
3
GETTING STARTED |
By LEE V. GAINES msleditorial@shawmedia.com
Erica Benson – ebenson@shawmedia.com
Marklund Life Skills Academy teacher Irmina Jaskolka works Tuesday with Nathaniel on colors, shapes and letters. Efforts are being made to build an addition to the academy. The grant was part of a bequest split between Marklund and Wheaton College, Fonger said. With the funds provided, Wheaton plans to establish a training program at the college for teachers working with children with developmental disabilities, who would have the opportunity to come to Marklund for practical training in a partnership between the college and the nonprofit, according to Fonger. There is an acute need for more services targeted to children along the autism spectrum, he said.
High: 28 Low: 24 Mostly cloudy, not as cold
The planned 12,000-squarefoot addition to Marklund’s Life Skills Academy would connect to the existing building. Illustration provided
See MARKLUND, page 6
8YOUR WEEKEND FORECAST Friday
NWD • Friday, December 13, 2013 • mysuburbanlife.com • CSP Suburban Life
BLOOMINGDALE – The Marklund Life Skills Academy in Bloomingdale is planning to expand its location on South Prairie Avenue to serve 50 more children and teens with autism. But the nonprofit, which provides services for adults and children with profound disabilities, has not yet received approval of its plans from the village. Some neighbors have expressed concerns about what the expansion could mean for area traffic. Adults and children from 23 school districts regularly attend or are housed at Marklund’s Bloomingdale location, said Marklund CEO and President Gilbert Fonger. One of two facilities, the South Prairie site includes a children’s home, the Marklund Day School and the Life Skills Academy. Established in 2010, the academy serves about seven children along the autism spectrum, Fonger said. With funding from a $3.5 million grant from the Ann Haskins Foundation, Marklund plans to build a $4.1 million, 12,000-squarefoot addition, which would accommodate 50 more students and include as many parking spaces. The addition, to be named the Ann Haskins Center, would include seven classrooms, a large multi-purpose room and therapy space. The new building would be designed as a “laboratory school,” Fonger said, allowing teachers and others to observe classes in session.
Source: National Weather Service
Saturday
High: 30 Low: 15 Snow likely, mainly before noon
Sunday
High: 21 Low: 12 Partly sunny skies expected
8ON THE COVER Marklund hopes to build a 12,000-square-foot addition to its Life Skills Academy, but the $4.1 million project has met resistance from nearby residents.
CAROL STRE AM
Suburban Life
TIME TO BUILD?
YOUR NEW CAROL
STREAM PRESS
Residents weigh in on proposed $4 million Marklund addition
PAGE 3
FLEMING LIFTS PANTHER HOOPS PAGE 40
Illustration provided
FRIDAY, FRIDAY,
DECEMBER 13, 2013
CD V
| $1.50 | MYSUBUR BANLIFE.
COM/CAROLSTREA
Vol. 91 No. 47 | NWD | CSP
M
entral uPage ision Center
GET YOUR WEATHER DAILY: Sign up for our daily email newsletter and get today’s weather forecast delivered directly to your email inbox. Visit mysuburbanlife.com/email today!
20% of
complete purch ase of eyeglasses cannot be combined with insurance , now thru Dec 31
$30 of Contact Lens Fittings
now thru Decembe r 31, cannot be combined with insurance
27W185 Genev a Road Winield, IL 60190
630-668-2020
www.centrald upagev
ision.com
MADE IN THE U.S.A.